BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released a new report outlining the regulatory priorities and policy directions needed to support the continued expansion of Nigeria’s fintech sector, while safeguarding financial stability and system integrity.
The report assesses the maturity and scale of the fintech ecosystem, highlights Nigeria’s leadership in real-time payments, and identifies key structural factors driving recent growth. It positions fintech innovation as a complementary force within the financial system, enhancing access, efficiency, and inclusion as the sector enters its next phase of development.
Informed by surveys and extensive stakeholder engagement, the report outlines practical policy directions to improve regulatory coordination, strengthen supervisory capability, and support responsible innovation, including cross-border scale. It underscores interoperability, proportional regulation, and effective execution as critical enablers of sustainable ecosystem development.
This publication forms part of an ongoing series through which the CBN will continue to engage the financial sector, provide clearer regulatory direction, and support more coordinated execution. It is intended to serve as a shared reference point for banks, fintech firms, regulators, infrastructure providers, investors, and partners as Nigeria consolidates its position within the regional and global fintech landscape.
